Cavs edged again after comeback bid

Zach LaVine scored 24 points, rookie Ryan Arcidiacono added 15 and the Bulls rebounded after blowing an early 16-point lead to edge the Cavaliers, 99-98.

Wendell Carter Jr. also had 15 points as Chicago won for the second time in six games.

LaVine has scored 20 more points in each of Chicago’s 13 games this season and in a career-high 14 straight overall, dating to his final game of 201718. The last Bulls player to score 20-plus points in 14 consecutive games was Jimmy Butler, who did it 15 straight times in 2016.

Tristan Thompson had 22 points and 12 rebounds for the league-worst Cavs. Rookie guard Collin Sexton scored a season-high 20 points in his second straight start and second of his career.

Rodney Hood also had 20 points and Jordan Clarkson came off the bench to score 15, but the Cavaliers lost their fifth BULLS 99, CAVALIERS 98

straight.

Cleveland nearly pulled this one out.

With 13 seconds left, Carter couldn’t handle LaVine’s pass and Cleveland recovered. Coach Larry Drew called a timeout to set up a final play, but Sexton was blocked by LaVine as he drove to the basket at the buzzer.

The 23-year-old LaVine was flashy at times, scoring on several highlightreel dunks. Arcidiacono, making his first career start, scored 10 of his points in the first half.

The Cavaliers’ only win this season was on Oct. 30 over Atlanta.

Cleveland forward Cedi Osman sat out the game with back spasms. He was forced to leave Wednesday’s loss to Oklahoma City in the first quarter, becoming the latest Cavs player to join an injury list that includes All-Star forward Kevin Love, point guard George Hill and forward Sam Dekker.